The Atlas Obscura Guide To Rome

133 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Rome, Italy

Updated March 27, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Rome

Rome, Italy

Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts

The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises."

Rome, Italy

Torre Argentina (Roman Cat Sanctuary)

Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

Rome, Italy

Quartiere Coppedè

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

Rome, Italy

Galleria Sciarra

This hidden Art Nouveau courtyard is an opulent feast for the eyes.

Rome, Italy

The Dome Illusion

A master of trompe-l'oeil creates a stunning, tourist-fooling dome out of a flat ceiling.

Rome, Italy

The Aventine Keyhole

Rome's semi-secret peephole vista is also a former Crusader stronghold.

Rome, Italy

Porta Alchemica

An alchemist's "magic door" stands in the middle of a Roman park.

Rome, Italy

The Mouth of Truth

The yawning maw of this pagan visage is said to bite off the hands of liars.

See All 133 Things To Do in Rome

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Rome

Rome, Italy

Servian Wall at McDonald's

Inside this McDonald's you can dine on your Big Mac and fries next to a 2,500-year-old Roman wall.

Rome, Italy

Passticeria il Boccione

In Rome’s Jewish ghetto, a 200-year-old bakery still makes the neighborhood’s historic sweets.

Rome, Italy

Garum Biblioteca e Museo Della Cucina

Rome is now home to a stunning food museum and library.

Rome, Italy

Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari

This delightful little museum is dedicated to only one thing: pasta.

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

From a rooftop bar opera show to gladiator school and espresso tasting.

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Northern Italy’s Culinary Treasures

Taste your way through Italy’s northwest region of Piedmont, sampling sweets, sipping local wine, and foraging for truffles.

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Explore Rome, Italy

Roman 34

Sacred Spaces 24

History & Culture 22

Ancient 21

Churches 20

Ruins 15

Statues 12

Relics And Reliquaries 11

Relics 9

Art 9

History 9

Architectural Oddities 8

Places To Stay 1

Rome Leaderboard

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Stories About Rome

A Hidden Caravaggio Masterpiece, An Inheritance Feud, and a Roman Villa up for Sale

The future of a mysterious painting by the famed 17th-century "rebel artist" hangs in the balance.

by Monika Schmitter

A Roman Emperor's Villa Is Now Producing Olive Oil

Hadrian's estate has trees found nowhere else on Earth.

by Vittoria Traverso

The Roman Museum With a Taste for Historical Cookbooks

A former pâtissier's culinary collection is now available to the public.

by Eric Millman

A View of the Space Age From the Classical World

This mesmerizing image brings the International Space Station and Rome's ancient Colosseum together.

by Gemma Tarlach

January 4, 2022

Before Haunted Houses, There Were Hell Banquets

The macabre feasts have their roots in ancient Rome.

November 17, 2021

Podcast: The Capitoline Wolf

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

by The Podcast Team

November 3, 2021

Rome’s Accidental Lake Is an Urban Refuge and Catalyst for Activism

The body of water, which shouldn’t even exist, has a long history as a source of both controversy and comfort.

by Lidija Pisker

Tiberius, Imperial Detective

In ancient Rome, murder was a private business, unless the emperor took an interest in the case.

by Emma Southon

Lists Featuring Rome

Crypt of the Three Skeletons.

Inside the Golden House.

Mithras slaying the bull - Context Travel

Vatican Necropolis.

10 Places to Explore the Dark Underbelly of Rome

St. Valentine's city isn't all roses and romance.

Including Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts, Domus Aurea, and The Mithraeum at Circus Maximus

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